Poverty in Belize

Poverty In Belize

Poverty alleviation is not entirely held too high in regards. Therefore poverty is present in every country and in any economy. Thus, as in any economy many activist claim that the latest census indicates that Belizean were poorer in 2002 that it was in 1995. Thou it is true that the latest census does indicate that Belizean were indeed poorer in 2002; they allege that it was caused by the disproportionate distribution of wealth and resources with the economy. As a result, the records prove that “44% to 24%” poverty is present in rural and urban areas respectively. “The needs of the poor take priority over the desires of the rich" (Pope J. Paul II, 1984). Because of its obvious inhumane effects, “a globalized and sustained war on poverty has been waged”. Significant resources nationally and internationally have been mobilized and earmarked for the elimination of poverty. Most international funding agencies have this as a high priority activity. It is noted that any real development cannot successfully proceed if poverty is not eradicated or as a minimum, alleviated.

So what when wrong in 2002 was that the “world’s definition of poverty was changed and it became so difficult to measurement and it even became more elusive” (C. Blake, 2000). Indeed, it can be argued that if a phenomenon like poverty cannot be defined, then it cannot be adequately measured. However, the political will need to be there order to effectively alleviate poverty. As show in the census report.

It shows that 33.5% of the population were below the poverty line and 10.8% were below the indigent line. This mean that one in every three person was poor … not able to meet basic food and non-food cost, while one in every nine persons was very poor not able to meet basic food cost.

Government commitment is the only way forward as unpalatable as it may be; it is succinct that homelessness, hunger, lack of work, and illiteracy are direct effects of destitute among people today. As a result, this causes people to struggle throughout their lives. Poverty, a ubiquitous problem in the streets of Belize, is a murky road to ultimate despair. There are many different reasons for poverty, but there are a few well-traveled paths to destitution; mental illness, lack of affordable housing, family breakdown, and alcoholism are all factors of poverty. A chilling fact, from any point of view, is that our small children have become greatly affected by poverty.

As within the Caribbean it is generally accepted that the more money spent on education help to alleviate poverty. Education has alleviated the standard of living for many individual especially those from the rural areas where poverty is 44%. The reason for investing in education is because it has solved many of our social problems such as the literacy rate among children. We believe that Belize is not on the footing stone to poverty because there is no political will but on the contrary. It may be true the poverty rate is too high for the country and efforts should be more concentrated on the alleviation of poverty within our society. Although many critics believe that government should spend less on education and capital projects. However, the best project to invest in is on the education of our younger children.

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